New York’s Child Care Costs and Regulations Ranking

A recent analysis highlights that New York state ranks as the second worst in the country for high child care costs and stringent regulations.

According to the Archbridge Institute, a conservative think tank, it’s suggested that New York should aim to “deregulate” child care costs by eliminating unnecessary regulations. This contrasts with the approach proposed by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who favor expanding taxpayer-funded coverage for children.

The institute advises that instead of funding costly taxpayer subsidies and state-supported initiatives, New York should reduce regulatory burdens on child care providers, which can inadvertently drive up prices and create barriers for parents. This perspective comes from their “Child Care Freedom” analysis, which ranks Vermont as the least regulated state.

“A more affordable America, particularly regarding child care, means adopting fewer regulations across the states,” they remarked.

The analysis examines various state policies and regulations affecting center-based child care facilities, including specifics like child-to-staff ratio requirements based on age, maximum group sizes, and the necessary training and education for staff and center directors.

States imposing higher educational standards for child care licensure often performed poorly in this study.

New York’s score of 1.87 was considerably lower compared to other populous states; for perspective, Florida ranked fifth, Texas ninth, and California thirteenth.

The Empire State’s ranking suffers due to its stricter child-to-staff ratios: 8-to-1 for four-year-olds and 9-to-1 for five-year-olds.

In comparison, California does not enforce a maximum group size except for infants under 27 months.

Florida boasts higher child-to-staff ratios for three-year-olds (15:1), four-year-olds (20:1), and five-year-olds (25:1).

Edward Timmons, the Archbridge Institute’s vice president of policy, argues that New York should explore alternatives for lowering child care costs rather than depending on tax dollars to fund free child care.

“Instead of pursuing a financially imprudent plan for free child care, Governor Hochul should collaborate with legislators to relax New York’s stringent rules, fostering greater choice and competition,” Timmons suggested.

He added that increasing the number of children per staff member and expanding maximum group sizes could provide parents with more options in child care. Evidence has shown that these regulations don’t necessarily enhance care quality or ensure child safety, but they definitely contribute to higher costs.

On the other hand, some lawmakers emphasize the importance of regulations, particularly for very young children.

“While it’s wise to examine regulations, we must ensure our children are safe and properly educated,” said Bronx Councilman Michael Benedetto, who leads the school committee. “It’s a delicate balance,” he noted.

According to Archbridge’s 2026 Index, states with the least child care regulations include Idaho, South Carolina, Arizona, Alabama, and Florida, with New York sitting near the bottom alongside Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

For many families in the city, child care expenses exceed $20,000 per year, making New York home to the most expensive child care facilities in the nation.

Governor Hochul has proposed a $4.5 billion, multi-year initiative aimed at implementing universal child care.

This initiative includes the “2 Cares” program for every two-year-old in New York City and seeks to build upon existing early childhood education, potentially benefiting an additional 100,000 children throughout the state.

Mamdani’s campaign commitment is to ensure all children in the city receive free child care starting at six weeks old. He plans to fund this by increasing taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations.

The report points out that federal regulations have significantly influenced state child care policies.

In particular, the 2014 reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant required states receiving federal aid to impose restrictions on group sizes and child-to-staff ratios, along with other new licensing conditions.